Famous Pittsburghers

Media, Movies & Music

Christina Aguilera This grammy award-winning songbird got her start singing “The Star Spangled Banner” at Pittsburgh Penguins hockey, Pittsburgh Steelers football and Pittsburgh Pirates baseball games.

George Benson Influential Jazz guitarist and ten time Grammy Award winner. His album Breezin’ in 1976, was the first jazz album to earn platinum status.

Nellie Bly Reporter for the Pittsburgh Dispatch. Her reporting revolutionized journalism for women.

Charles Bronson Best known for his series of Death Wish thrillers he also starred in the Great Escape, The Magnificent Seven and Once Upon A Time In The West.

Ted Cassidy Played “Lurch” on the original Addams family series. He also played roles on the popular Star Trek and I Dream of Jeannie series.

Photo Information: Top left to right:; Jeff Goldblum; Andrew Carnegie; Henry J Heinz, image courtesy of The Heinz History Center Library and Archives; Holly Hunter; Fred Rogers; Joe Grushecky

Perry Como “Mr. C” recorded for RCA Records and was a popular and award winning film, television and radio personality from the 1940’s up until the late 1990’s.

Billy Eckstine A swing era bandleader, his smooth vocals thrilled audiences during the 1940’s.

Errol Garner An American Jazz pianist best known for composing the ballad “Misty” which was featured in the Clint Eastwood film Play Misty for Me.

Jeff Goldblum The star of The Fly and Jurassic Park. His film debut was in Charles Bronson’s Death Wish in 1974.

Joe Grushecky A member of the Iron City Houserockers, Joe has also had success with his latest band The Gene Kelly A dominant Hollywood force beginning in the 1940’s he is best known for his roles in Singin’ In The Rain and An American In Paris.

Houserockers and often accompanies Bruce Springsteen on various outings.

Holly Hunter Studied at Carnegie Mellon University and performed on many area stages before becoming famous for her roles in movies such as The Piano, Broadcast News, The Firm and Thirteen.

Donnie Iris Well known for his work with the Jaggerz (who had a big hit with “The Rapper”, in 1969) and “Wild Cherry” in the 70’s. He later penned the popular hit “Ah Leah!” in 1980.

Shirley Jones Shirley won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the movie Elmer Gentry in 1960 before becoming well known as Shirley Partridge, head of the Partridge Family.

Dean Martin The “King of Cool” was born in nearby Steubenville, OH to Italian immigrants. He was later a member of the “Rat Pack” along with Joey Bishop, Peter Lawford, Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra.

Bret Michaels Originally the vocalist for 90’s hair band Poison, Bret has had a successful solo career and won Donald Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice in 2010.

Dennis Miller Miller rose to fame as a cast member and host of Weekend Update on Saturday Night Live beginning in 1985.

Fred Rogers He created and hosted Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood from 1968-2001 and has been inducted into the Television Hall of Fame. Tom Hanks stars in a movie about his life called A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.

Gertrude Stein A writer, poet, and art collector. Her book Q.E.D., was one of the first “coming out” stories. She and her brother Leo’s joint art collection is one of the finest and most well known in history.

Sharon Stone She was born and raised in Meadville, very near Pittsburgh. After winning the Miss Pennsylvania beauty contest, she went on to become one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.

Billy Strayhorn Best known for his collaborations with Duke Ellington. He is the composer of the hits Take the ““A” Train” and “Lush Life”.

Andy Warhol Leading figure in the Pop Art movement. He also founded Interview magazine and coined the popular phrase “15 minutes of fame.” The Andy Warhol Museum, in Pittsburgh is the largest museum dedicated to the work of a single artist.

Sports

Mike Ditka Coached and played for Chicago Bears. As a tight end for the Bears, he won Super Bowls and garnered three Pro Bowl invitations. He also won a Super Bowl as the Bears coach.

Pete Maravich He is still the leading NCAA Division 1 scorer and is considered one of the best ball handlers of all time. He played for three NBA teams during his career: Atlanta Hawks, New Orleans Jazz and Boston Celtics.

Bill Mazeroski Nicknamed “Maz” he is the only player to decide a World Series victory with a home run in the seventh game. He played with the Pirates his entire 16 year career and was one of the greatest defensive second basemen of all time.

Stan Musial Played 22 seasons with the St Louis Cardinals, he is considered one of the greatest hitters of all time and compiled 3,630 hits.

Honus Wagner Many baseball historians consider him the best shortstop ever. He played for the Pirates from 1897- 1917. Nicknamed “The Flying Dutchman” for his speed and agile base running.

Innovators

William D Boyce Founder of the Boy Scouts of America in 1910.

Andrew Carnegie He built up the Carnegie Steel Company which later merged with the Federal Steel Company and several smaller steel companies to form US Steel. He is usually regarded as the second wealthiest man in the world behind John D. Rockefeller. He later built Carnegie Hall in NYC and became one of the world’s greatest philanthropists.

Henry Clay Frick Chariman of the Carnegie Steel Company he played a major role in the formation of U.S. Steel.

Henry J. Heinz Founded the HJ Heinz company and led a successful effort to pass the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906.

Samuel Kier He is credited with founding the American oil industy after he refined crude oil into lamp oil.

Andrew Mellon A banker, industrialist and philanthropist he served as Secretary of the Treasury from 1921-1932. He helped found Alcoa, Westinghouse, Gulf Oil and General Motors.

Thomas Mellon Founder of the Mellon Bank and patriarch of the Mellon family.

John A. Roebling Designed the Brooklyn and Covington-Cincinnati Suspension Bridges.

Jonas Salk Developed the first polio vaccine in 1955.